Music Market Update: United States

DESPITE FOUR DEBUTS IN the top ten, overall album sales are down 1% over last week and down 9% over the same week last year. Year-to-date album sales are down 14% over the same period in 2013. Physical CD sales are down 2% over last week, down 14% over the same week last year and down 19% year-to-date over 2013. Digital album sales are down 2% over last week, down 7% over the same week last year and down 11% year-to-date over 2013. Digital track sales are down 1% over last week, down 8% over the same week last year and down 13% year-to-date over 2013. Track-equivalent album sales are down 1.2% over last week and down 13.9% year-to-date over 2013.

With music being such a key part of the movie “Guardians Of The Galaxy,” it’s no surprise the soundtrack is off to a great sales start. After debuting at No. 3 last week, the soundtrack jumps to No. 1 on the Top Albums chart with 109,000 units sold, up 83% over last week. It is the second soundtrack to top the chart in 2014, following “Frozen.” It also joins “Frozen” as the only albums to reach the top of the chart this year without debuting at No. 1.